July 27, 2021
by Patricia Tomasi
A new study published in PLOS Genetics looked at how light affects behavioral despair involving the clock gene Period 1 using mice. “The study is about how light may affect our brain,” study author, Dr. Urs Albrecht told us. “In particular, how light can influence our wellbeing and mood. We were wondering whether light really can affect the brain, because from personal experience life appears to be easier in summer when there is more light than in winter.”
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Winter blues are more than a little sadness. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth edition (DSM-5), seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of recurring depression based on seasonal patterns (APA, 2013). The most frequent occurrence of SAD is during the winter months (Evans et al., 2013). The Mayo Clinic (2014) describes winter SAD symptoms as depression, irritability, fatigue, problems getting along with others, hypersensitivity to rejection, heavy feeling in legs and arms, increase in appetite, and weight gain.
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While the signs and symptoms of depression are the same for adolescents and adults, depression in teens often presents very differently from adults (ibid.). It is imperative, therefore, for parents, teachers, and professionals involved with adolescents to know the different ways teens show their depression.
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November 13, 2014
by Marti Wormuth, MA
One of the most difficult things to deal with in life is losing someone that you love. But when they take their own life in some way, the suffering becomes that much worse for those left behind. Questions go through your mind and you aren't totally sure how to deal with it. And that's okay - it's hard to be the people that are left behind from such a painful experience. International Survivors of Suicide Day is November 15th, and this day is to help people realize that they are not alone in this journey, and that they do not need to feel afraid.
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January 8, 2014
by LuAnn Pierce, LCSW
Winter is here and with the change of the season comes an unwelcome shift in mood for almost 10% of the population in some regions of the country. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is considered a type of major depressive disorder, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
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December 1, 2013
by Daniel Lukasik
Most people know at least one lawyer. What they don’t likely know is that there’s a pretty good chance they suffer from depression. While the rate of depression in the general population hovers around ten percent, studies show that the rate of depression for lawyers is twice that. Accordingly, of the 1.2 million lawyers in America, approximately 240,000 of them are struggling with depression right now.
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Though we don't typically associate the two, sadness and joy are more closely linked than you might think. Have you ever been in a situation where you feel mildly or even severely depressed, but then feel better after letting it out? The venting of melancholic emotions does just that: it lets everything out. That is why activities that may elicit a strong, emotional reaction (such as a sad movie) can actually bring us to a more positive mood at the end.
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